Pinocchio

Under the starry Tuscan sky, a lonely puppet-maker longs to be reunited with his long-lost son. Much to his surprise, his wish is granted when his newest marionette, Pinocchio, is magically brought to life and promises to bring his son home. Join Pinocchio on a magnificent adventure across enchanting Italy, deep beneath the Mediterranean sea, and into the belly of an enormous shark in this award-winning fairy tale musical!

Don't miss the opportunity to experience this imaginative, award-winning musical in your school!

cast & crew

farren timoteoArtistic director/PLAYWRIGHT/LYRICIST/Director

Farren is an Edmonton-based actor, writer and director. He became the Artistic Director of Alberta Opera in 2006, and has since written and directed a number of productions for the company, including Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Rumpelstiltskin, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and Hansel and Gretel. Other directing credits include Songs for a New World at the 2005 Edmonton Fringe Festival; Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for the Mayfield Theatre; Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s and The Infinite Shiver for Teatro La Quindicina (both of which he also wrote the lyrics for); Pippin for the Young Companies at the Citadel Theatre; The Light in the Piazza for Grant MacEwan University; and Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale (C’mon Ensemble). Acting credits include Made in Italy for Western Canada Theatre; The Light in the Piazza for Theatre Calgary; As You Like It and Coriolanus for Freewill Shakespeare Festival; Shakespeare in Love, Peter and the Starcatcher, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Make Mine Love, and Monty Python’s Spamalot for the Citadel Theatre; Marvelous Pilgrims, The Scent of Compulsion and A Rocky Night for His Nibs For Teatro La Quindicina; Waiting for Godot for Wishbone Theatre; Early Bloomer for Concrete Theatre and Little Shop of Horrors for the Mayfield Theatre. Farren has been honoured by the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes on a number of occasions, most recently for his performance in Monty Python’s Spamalot and for his direction of Pinocchio. This season, in addition to his work at Alberta Opera, Farren will tour his own one-person show, Made in Italy, to several theatres in Canada including the Citadel Theatre, and will serve as Assistant Director on Gonoud’s Roméo et Juliette at Calgary Opera. Farren resides in Edmonton with his wife, celebrated performer Patricia Zentilli, and their incredible seven year-old son, Leonardo.

jeff ungercomposer/lyricist

During his time with Alberta Opera, Jeff Unger established himself as an important creative voice in Alberta, entertained millions of students and adults across Western Canada, and watched the company grow into a major force in school touring. He co-authored and composed music for sixteen original fairy tale adaptations including Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin. The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards recognized Jeff’s musicals and his work as a Musical Director on several occasions, and in 2012 he received the award for Outstanding Score for his work on Pinocchio. In 2010, after more than a decade touring his works, Jeff became an Artistic Director of Alberta Opera, a position he held until his passing in 2015.

mackenzie reurinkMusical Director

Mackenzie is a classically trained vocalist, and has been studying music since she was eight years old. She is a proud graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts Program, and holds certificates from the Royal Conservatory of Music in both voice and piano. Musical Directing credits include: LIZZIE, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Uniform Theatre), Spring Awakening (Strathcona Alumni Theatre Co.), Footloose, RENT, The Addams Family (Scona Theatre Co.), Zanna, Don’t!, Ordinary Days, Songs for a New World, I Love You Because (Three Form Theatre). Select Theatre Credits include: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, American Idiot (Scona Alumni Theatre); The National Elevator Project (Theatre Yes); Klondykes (Theatre Network/Guys in Disguise); Marvelous Pilgrims (Teatro la Quindicina); Sleeping Beauty (Alberta Opera); Calvin Berger, Dogfight (Three Form Theatre); Merrily We Roll Along, Xanadu (MacEwan University). She is the founder of local independent company, Uniform Theatre.

TIANa tolleyproduction manager/technical director

As a graduate of Grant MacEwan University’s Theatre Production program, Tiana has spent over the past decade in the Edmonton Theatre scene. Her credits include serving as the Resident Technician and Carpenter for Theatre Network from 2006 to 2015, 10 summers with the Freewill Shakespeare Festival and is eager to return for her 6th season as Production & Technical Director for Alberta Opera’s Touring Association.Tiana is well-known for her Scenic Carpentry, problem-solving and peculiar sense of humour!She was nominated in 2014 for an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for “Excellence in Production” for her work as a Technical Director/ Production Manager.

Tiana also loves hotdogs, Hazel and Sexy Joe. (In that order)

IZZY BERGQUISTStage Manager

Izzy has recently graduated from the University of Alberta, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Theatre majoring in Stage Management. In the past few years she has had the pleasure to work with Catch the Keys Productions, Opera Nuova, Blarney Productions, Praise Doris Productions, Theatre Network, and on festivals such as StageLab Festival, Nextfest + Dancefest, Foundfest, Freewill Shakespeare Festival, and on various productions at the University of Alberta. Izzy is thrilled to be working with Alberta Opera for the first time this season on Fossegrim & Nøkk at the Edmonton International Fringe, and on Pinocchio this fall.

deanna finnmancostume designer

Deanna has also created costumes for Alberta Opera’s Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel and Aladdin. The Edmonton based designer has worked with numerous local theatres, garnering 8 Sterling nominations and 3 Sterling awards for best costume design. Currently she is the head of wardrobe and resident costume designer at Edmonton Opera where she has designed costumes for recent productions of Elektra, La Cenerentola, and HMS Pinafore.

cory sincennesSet designer

Cory is an award winning designer, currently residing in Charlottetown,PEI. His set, costume and lighting designs have received both national and international recognition. His work has been seen throughout Canada, as well as throughout Europe and Russia. Cory earned a degree in Architectural Studies from Carleton University before studying design at Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto. He also holds a MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta. Cory is excited to be back working with Alberta opera, having previously designed Aladdin. Other Design Work: Anne of Green Gables, Mamma Mia, Evangeline (Charlottetown Festival); Liberation Days (Theatre Calgary/WCT); Peter and the Starcatcher, Made in Italy (WCT); Mary Poppins, Crazy For You (Theatre Calgary/Citadel Theatre); Million Dollar Quartet,Shakespeare in Love, Romeo and Juliet, Spamalot, The Rocky Horror Show (Citadel); Last 5 Years, Michel and Ti-Jean, and Let The Light Of Day Through (Theatre Network).

www.corysincennes.com

patrick beaganLighting designer

This is Patrick’s first show with Alberta Opera- but he is no stranger to Theatre for Young Audiences. He works regularly with Concrete Theatre as a designer and coordinates their school tours. Growing up in central Alberta, he has an extensive history with Red Deer’s Prime Stock Theatre, Ignition Theatre, and Red Deer College. Recent work includes lighting Honour Beat for Theatre Calgary, co-directing Reckoning for Article 11, and lighting Major Barbara for RDC. pbeagan.com

cameron chapmangeppetto & ensemble

Cameron Chapman finished MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts Program in 2017, and this is his first production with Alberta Opera. He is very excited to be touring Pinocchio with this excellent cast and creative team. Past credits include, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Uniform Theatre), Into the Woods, Footloose, and The Drowsy Chaperone (MacEwan University), and he just finished working at Fort Steele in their street scenes and stage show this summer.

chariz faulminopinocchio & ensemble

Chariz Faulmino is 20 and is a recent graduate of the Theatre Arts Program at MacEwan University (2018). This is her very first employment as an “actress” and she will be playing many parts in this production including Pinocchio. In her pursuit of her dreams in Theatre she has tackled many roles such as Jasmine in Aladdin, Rizzo in Grease, Tiffany Houston in Back to the 80’s, Nancy in Oliver, most recently Alaura Kingsley in City of Angels and Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act. Chariz is thrilled to be working with amazing, talented artists. Although she wouldn’t be where she is without the relentless support and love she receives from her friends and family as well as her mentors who have guided her in her path. She is beyond thankful that she has the opportunity to do what she loves and be able to share stories and joy with others.

josh travnikvincenzo & ensemble

Josh Travnik is a recent graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts program, having appeared in their productions of Sister Act, Love and Information, and as Stine in City of Angels. Josh was thrilled to join the Thousand Faces Festival with Theatre Prospero in The Nightingale. Other favourite credits include the Edmonton Fringe productions of River City, the Musical with Dammitammy Productions, Evil Dead: The Musical, Bat Boy, and Ordinary Days with Straight Edge Theatre, and Pig By Roger and ; (semicolon) The Musical for Margin Release productions. Josh has also appeared in Into the Woods and RENT with Two One Way Tickets to Broadway, and Beauty and the Beast with Stageworks Academy. Josh is truly thrilled to be a part of this adventure with Alberta Opera!

yvonne boonpianist

Yvonne Boon is a contemporary pianist from Edmonton. She graduated from MacEwan University in 2014 with diplomas in Piano Performance and Composition. She also has level 10 certificates from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Yvonne has performed at the Kaleido Family Arts Festivals, K-Days, Animethon, and at various other local venues. She enjoys singing and playing in pop bands and open mics. Yvonne is looking forward to her debut season with Alberta Opera.